Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazmine Escobar.
Jazmine, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
There’s no denying that my love for dance was God Given. My mom and I like to joke around and say that I came dancing out of the womb. She loved to dance back in the day and so I feel like I am simply a physical representation of the phrase “I get it from my mama.” As a toddler, I was always dancing around the house, and at family parties, you could find me in the middle of a circle, dancing like there was no tomorrow! I was 4 years old when I enrolled into my first dance studio, where I took jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and tap classes, and I stuck with it ever since. Growing up, my parents provided the funds, transportation, and dedication when it came to anything dance related (i.e., training, rehearsals, performances, etc.). They definitely noticed how much joy dance truly brought me and that it was, in fact, a passion over a hobby. As I type in this moment, I’m realizing I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express how grateful I am for everything that my parents have done and continue to do for me. I’ve never had to wonder if they would support my life decisions or my aspirations, and that’s a blessing within itself. With that being said, over the years, I spent lots of time being a part of a few dance companies, I enrolled into other dance studios, I was heavily involved with my high school’s dance department, and I took drop-in classes around the DMV area. It’s definitely safe for me to say that the DMV dance community gave me endless tools, water, and light to grow as a dancer and young woman. My family, teachers, and mentors gave me and still give me nothing but encouragement, love, and unwavering support that sparked my belief of being able to be and do anything I desire in this lifetime.
Fast forward to today, I’ve been living in LA for over a year, I’m making the younger version of me proud, I’m moving at my own pace, I’m living my truth unabashedly, I’m dancing my dance, and I’m writing my story.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’d be lying if I sat here and said that my journey up to this very moment has been a smooth road. Prior to moving to LA, there was a period in time where I struggled with wholeheartedly believing that my dream could be something more than a thought or possibility. I struggled with thinking that there would be a perfect time to take action on my goals when in reality, perfect timing just doesn’t exist. Truth be told, I sometimes still struggle with fear of the unknown when it comes to many aspects of my life. Once I got to LA, I struggled with putting unnecessary pressure on myself. I struggled with accepting change and feeling like I needed to have everything in order as soon as I touched down. I struggled with being super homesick as well. I had to and still do a lot of inner work to help me regroup and recenter myself because your own thoughts can definitely get the best of you if you allow them. I could sit here and give many stories that highlight moments when I battled self-doubt and discouragement (although we’d be here for a good minute) but through it all, I persevered. I kept pushing. I worked on strengthening my faith, and I never questioned God.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
First and foremost, I’m a daughter, big sister, friend, and girlfriend. If you’re into astrology I’m a cancer, I’m a professional dancer, I’m a self-love and women empowerment enthusiast, and so much more. Right now, I’m focused on journeying in grace while furthering my current dance career and simultaneously starting to pursue other ventures. In addition to all of that, I’m also taking the time to just be present and enjoying what my 20-somethings have to offer in entirety. Right before the pandemic, I tapped into my brand, “Unafraid To Be Woman.” UATBW ties together the positive force of dance and conversation to cultivate a safe space for women to feel encouraged and empowered. I’m currently revamping but that’s something I’m proud of, and I can’t wait to see how it’ll expand in due time. Within this past year and a half of living in LA I’m proud that I was able to sign to an agency, that I’ve been able to audition and train with teachers/choreographers I’ve admired for so long, that I’ve been able to experience a lot of first-time opportunities including but not limited to performing at my first award show (The Grammys), my first music festival (Coachella), I even got to dance in my first beauty campaign, plus more, and I simply cannot wait to see what else is on the horizon.
Having the courage to live a life true to myself, not a life that others expect of me, is what I’m currently most proud of. I’ve gotten to where I am today because of God, a strong support system, hard work, perseverance, and patience. I know that I’m exactly where I need to be during this chapter of my life, and even though I’m not sure what the future holds, I’m going to continue to enjoy the unfolding of it all!
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
When it comes to working towards your goals, risk-taking is something that I think is unavoidable. Taking a risk can be nerve-wracking because there’s a lot of fear and uncertainty; however, it can also be super liberating once you look back and realize that it was worth it. Taking a risk also may not always transpire in the way we expect it to either, but we can learn from it and should trust the process, nonetheless. Moving to LA was a major risk for me within itself. Picking up and leaving what I was used to was scary, but it opened doors for me and expanded my possibilities. Taking risks isn’t easy, but I’m here to encourage anyone reading this to TAKE THAT RISK you’ve been putting off to side. Having faith in yourself is truly your power. Once I learned that nothing is guaranteed, but anything is possible, the game truly changed for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjazescobar
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsjazescobar
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Itsjazescobar
Image Credits
Francis Shad
Mikael Selassi
Alissa Roseborough
